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Get the Daily Morning Brief: www.kuer.org/newsletters
Stay on a budget or eat organic? 🤔 …Can you have both?
Organic on a budget is about trade-offs in time and money
Based on a simple Bolognese recipe, we wanted to know if you could do organic on a budget. In the end, that might be a quest that becomes a gateway to gardening.
buff.ly
January 12, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Stay on a budget or eat organic? 🤔 …Can you have both?
“I am convinced more than ever that a bell-to-bell cellphone ban is the single most important thing that we can do for our students in our schools today,” the gov said.
Last year, Utah restricted phones in schools. This year, they may go further
Last year, Utah lawmakers banned cellphones during class time. But Gov. Spencer Cox thinks phones also need to be off-limits in between classes. That’s called a bell-to-bell ban.
buff.ly
January 12, 2026 at 9:33 PM
“I am convinced more than ever that a bell-to-bell cellphone ban is the single most important thing that we can do for our students in our schools today,” the gov said.
Public transit isn’t super convenient in parts of Utah. Fixing that is about more than just having more 🚌 stops nearby. It’s also the frequency and how far it’ll take you.
What a day without a car taught us about taking Salt Lake City’s public transit
New cars are more expensive than ever. Utah’s largest public transit system — the Utah Transit Authority — could make room in your budget, but it might add time to your commute.
buff.ly
January 12, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Public transit isn’t super convenient in parts of Utah. Fixing that is about more than just having more 🚌 stops nearby. It’s also the frequency and how far it’ll take you.
Child care ain’t cheap, as many Utah parents will tell you. Here’s how some of them are trying to make it work.
Budgeting for child care in Utah means prioritizing and getting a little creative
Utah has a serious shortage of licensed child care providers. That means families need to think ahead and budget smart if they want day care to be in their future.
buff.ly
January 12, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Child care ain’t cheap, as many Utah parents will tell you. Here’s how some of them are trying to make it work.
Researchers want to better understand how predators impact Utah’s mule 🦌 population. To do it, they’ll need to reduce the cougar population.
Utah is culling mountain lions to study the impact on deer
A 2020 law requires the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to reduce the number of predators when big game populations are low. Conservationists, along with some hunters and outdoorsmen, are upset…
buff.ly
January 12, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Researchers want to better understand how predators impact Utah’s mule 🦌 population. To do it, they’ll need to reduce the cougar population.
A post-retirement life of travel and humanitarian work is ideal for 5th-gen farmer ValJay Rigby’s wife. But those plans (and her) will have to wait, “because we don't have an easy way to do it.”
More than a third of Utah’s farmers are older than retirement age
With fewer young producers entering the industry, Utah’s agricultural workforce is aging on the farm.
buff.ly
January 12, 2026 at 5:21 PM
A post-retirement life of travel and humanitarian work is ideal for 5th-gen farmer ValJay Rigby’s wife. But those plans (and her) will have to wait, “because we don't have an easy way to do it.”
Nothing crazy is expected for Utah’s 2026 🏠 market. Though a slow 📉 in interest rates could open a window for potential new homebuyers who’ve felt shut out.
Utah’s housing market is expected to be ‘running in place’ in 2026
While economic pressures are still high, a slow decline in interest rates could provide an opening for buyers who feel shut out of the housing market.
buff.ly
January 12, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Nothing crazy is expected for Utah’s 2026 🏠 market. Though a slow 📉 in interest rates could open a window for potential new homebuyers who’ve felt shut out.
How can you afford an apartment when you can’t afford an apartment? Here’s how one struggling St. George resident eventually found a place to call home.
Soaring Washington County costs make budgeting for housing an uphill battle
“I just don't buy anything that's not something that I need to breathe, live and survive,” said one St. George resident about affording her apartment. Rents in this part of southwest Utah have…
buff.ly
January 12, 2026 at 4:25 PM
How can you afford an apartment when you can’t afford an apartment? Here’s how one struggling St. George resident eventually found a place to call home.
“They got [Maduro], but the criminals are still there,” said Manuel Coronel, a lawyer who left Venezuela in 2017 and now lives just north of Salt Lake City. “There’s no new government. Everything’s exactly the same.”
Venezuelans in Utah and elsewhere waver between joy and worry over Maduro’s ousting
For thousands of Venezuelans living in the U.S., the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the Trump administration is “a first step, but we’re nervous,” said Alejandra Salima, who fled…
buff.ly
January 12, 2026 at 3:53 PM
“They got [Maduro], but the criminals are still there,” said Manuel Coronel, a lawyer who left Venezuela in 2017 and now lives just north of Salt Lake City. “There’s no new government. Everything’s exactly the same.”
In the Salt Lake valley that familiar winter haze is back... sigh.
What’s a Utah inversion and why is the air so icky?
Utah experiences inversions during the winter every year. This year’s inversion season will most likely be similar to last year.
buff.ly
January 12, 2026 at 3:33 PM
In the Salt Lake valley that familiar winter haze is back... sigh.
New year, new mayor in Provo. We caught up with Marsha Judkins as she moved into City Hall and asked her what her plans were.
Marsha Judkins, Provo’s new mayor, has a big to-do list for her first term
Judkins has just finished moving into her new office, and housing and west side investment are already top of mind.
www.kuer.org
January 12, 2026 at 3:11 PM
New year, new mayor in Provo. We caught up with Marsha Judkins as she moved into City Hall and asked her what her plans were.
The cost of organic veggies has led some Utahns to take up a new hobby – and discover their new happy place. buff.ly/VaJLIAz
January 12, 2026 at 2:37 PM
The cost of organic veggies has led some Utahns to take up a new hobby – and discover their new happy place. buff.ly/VaJLIAz
Patterns of record-breaking temps affect life in places like Utah, scientists say – especially when it comes to our 💧 supply.
Salt Lake and several other Utah cities saw their warmest year on record in 2025
Record 2025 temperatures show how climate change is affecting Utah, including the state’s water supply.
buff.ly
January 11, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Patterns of record-breaking temps affect life in places like Utah, scientists say – especially when it comes to our 💧 supply.
Yes, there is a stigma around holding students back. Even so, Gov. Cox hopes the possibility motivates parents and teachers to offer more support.
Utah wants to follow Mississippi’s example in holding back students who can’t read
Only half of Utah third-graders are reading at grade level. Gov. Spencer Cox thinks having a law to hold students struggling with reading back a grade would help boost that number.
buff.ly
January 11, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Yes, there is a stigma around holding students back. Even so, Gov. Cox hopes the possibility motivates parents and teachers to offer more support.
The current school year phone restrictions – which by default allowed them during lunch and in the halls – didn’t go far enough for Gov. Cox. He’s pushing for the entire school day.
Last year, Utah restricted phones in schools. This year, they may go further
Last year, Utah lawmakers banned cellphones during class time. But Gov. Spencer Cox thinks phones also need to be off-limits in between classes. That’s called a bell-to-bell ban.
buff.ly
January 11, 2026 at 9:22 PM
The current school year phone restrictions – which by default allowed them during lunch and in the halls – didn’t go far enough for Gov. Cox. He’s pushing for the entire school day.
It’s been harder to attract young people, says the Utah Farm Bureau, as farming as a livelihood gets increasingly difficult.
More than a third of Utah’s farmers are older than retirement age
With fewer young producers entering the industry, Utah’s agricultural workforce is aging on the farm.
buff.ly
January 11, 2026 at 8:44 PM
It’s been harder to attract young people, says the Utah Farm Bureau, as farming as a livelihood gets increasingly difficult.
In its attempt to boost literacy rates, Utah hopes for a “Mississippi Miracle” of its own.
Utah wants to follow Mississippi’s example in holding back students who can’t read
Only half of Utah third-graders are reading at grade level. Gov. Spencer Cox thinks having a law to hold students struggling with reading back a grade would help boost that number.
buff.ly
January 11, 2026 at 7:02 PM
In its attempt to boost literacy rates, Utah hopes for a “Mississippi Miracle” of its own.
What’s in Utah’s 🏠 forecast for 2026?
Utah’s housing market is expected to be ‘running in place’ in 2026
While economic pressures are still high, a slow decline in interest rates could provide an opening for buyers who feel shut out of the housing market.
buff.ly
January 11, 2026 at 6:51 PM
What’s in Utah’s 🏠 forecast for 2026?
Gov. Cox dismisses the idea that the move is politically motivated, noting that Utah’s firm right lean makes a court expansion unlikely to change current dynamics.
Should lawmakers expand the Utah Supreme Court, or aim a little lower?
Republican leaders say expanding the state’s highest court from five to seven justices makes practical sense for a growing state, but others see it as flirting dangerously with court packing.
buff.ly
January 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Gov. Cox dismisses the idea that the move is politically motivated, noting that Utah’s firm right lean makes a court expansion unlikely to change current dynamics.
“We're already hammering lions hard enough,” said the founder of Utah Mountain Lion Conservation.
Utah is culling mountain lions to study the impact on deer
A 2020 law requires the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to reduce the number of predators when big game populations are low. Conservationists, along with some hunters and outdoorsmen, are upset…
buff.ly
January 11, 2026 at 4:11 PM
“We're already hammering lions hard enough,” said the founder of Utah Mountain Lion Conservation.
It’s not just buses and trailers. Some heavy-duty pickups can also exceed Zion’s size limit. Protip: Measure before you go.
Heads up, RV people: Zion’s large vehicle restrictions kick in this summer
Tour buses, RVs and trailers that exceed size limits won’t be allowed on the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway as of June 7.
buff.ly
January 11, 2026 at 3:27 PM
It’s not just buses and trailers. Some heavy-duty pickups can also exceed Zion’s size limit. Protip: Measure before you go.
The governor’s bell-to-bell 🚫 would apply to both 📱 and smart ⌚
Last year, Utah restricted phones in schools. This year, they may go further
Last year, Utah lawmakers banned cellphones during class time. But Gov. Spencer Cox thinks phones also need to be off-limits in between classes. That’s called a bell-to-bell ban.
buff.ly
January 11, 2026 at 2:59 PM
The governor’s bell-to-bell 🚫 would apply to both 📱 and smart ⌚
Utah’s home interest rates are slowly creeping down. Not ideal for sellers, but could be good for first-time buyers.
Utah’s housing market is expected to be ‘running in place’ in 2026
While economic pressures are still high, a slow decline in interest rates could provide an opening for buyers who feel shut out of the housing market.
buff.ly
January 10, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Utah’s home interest rates are slowly creeping down. Not ideal for sellers, but could be good for first-time buyers.
Half of Utah’s 3rd-graders aren’t reading at grade level. The gov thinks a policy requiring them to be held back can help Utah improve literacy rates.
Utah wants to follow Mississippi’s example in holding back students who can’t read
Only half of Utah third-graders are reading at grade level. Gov. Spencer Cox thinks having a law to hold students struggling with reading back a grade would help boost that number.
buff.ly
January 10, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Half of Utah’s 3rd-graders aren’t reading at grade level. The gov thinks a policy requiring them to be held back can help Utah improve literacy rates.
Chillin’ on the train home after work isn’t a bad way to unwind – as opposed to driving through rush hour.
What a day without a car taught us about taking Salt Lake City’s public transit
New cars are more expensive than ever. Utah’s largest public transit system — the Utah Transit Authority — could make room in your budget, but it might add time to your commute.
buff.ly
January 10, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Chillin’ on the train home after work isn’t a bad way to unwind – as opposed to driving through rush hour.